The Honorary Ball, Part II

[Jax Ridean]

Turns out, most bartenders didn't appreciate being yelled at. "My name is not Horace." the man curtly replied.

What the hell? What happened to Horace? Was there even a Horace to begin with? Maybe I'm still drunk...

"And there is no such thing as invisible-looking drink." The bartender slammed two shots of some sort of clearish liquor on the table.

Jax furrowed his eyebrows as he scrutinized the mysterious substance.

"This is the most invisible drink I offer."

His eyebrows shot up. Jax had gotten wasted one too many times to be able to recognize vodka when he saw it. It wasn't really a drink for lightweights..

But the little waif was already eagerly reaching for it, as if the glass was a cute puppy.

He had to stop her. "Hey, I'm not really sure you want to--"

Too late. As soon as she had swallowed the entire drink, Jaime cried out "IT BURNSSS!!!" fanning her neck as if that would stop the brilliant flush that swelled around her cheeks. "That's VODKA you think I'm stupid?" she yellled at the guy who was not named Horace.

He thought she was going to cry, but within seconds, she was back to her cheery self.

What is she bipolar?

"Hey where's your date?" she frowned, looking around the room curiously.

Jax took his shot of vodka. It burned the back of his throat, but that feeling was soon followed by europhoric bliss.

He sighed. "Let's just say she's indisposed at the moment."

[ST]

"Ms. Ridean, please move away from him,"

Quistis approached them, followed closely by two young men in SeeD uniform doning Disciplinary Committee badges. She paused in front of him and crossed her arms, her lips pursed, her frown disapproving. "Looks like you've had quite enough celebration for one night." she murmured. She turned to one of the men beside her. "Take him to the infirmary. And make sure he gets to his room afterward."

She turned to address Gemma. "I take it your hand is okay? If you have any more troubles with unsavory males, please report them and disciplinary measures will be taken accordingly." she gave a smile and nod, before moving away.

The two SeeDs lifted the stupified and bloody-faced man and began carrying him by the arms through the crowd.

[Blaze Sanaku]

"Didn't want to take her?" Blaze asked slightly intrigued. From the way Polaris used to talk about him I thought they had something going on... "I take it you don't like her new look?"

She decided she wouldn't ask anything else about it after that question. She really didn't care if anything HAD been going on between Zacke and Polaris. But seeing Zacke get flustered over the topic would have entertained her. Seeing as he didn't, she started to grow bored with the topic.

"What happened??" Blaze asked in surprise, the minute they had re-entered the ballroom. Two bloody men were being dragged away. She had missed a fight?!

[Hadrian D'arcell]

Whoa, part 2 thread Whoa@Gemma!! And HAHAHA Jax rox XD "Airy taste" AHAHAH
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Hadrian blew a strand of hair away from his face. He couldn't bring his hair to the way it was before Blaze messed it all up. He tried and tried until they all made it back to the Ballroom, and he still failed.

Stepping into the ever so familiar grand ball, he looked around and noticed that everyone was still flirting around with each other and dancing the night away. He thought that during the whole time he and Zacke were out hunting Blaze, they had started the candle lighting already. They sure were taking their time. He shrugged the thought. It was about this time that he usually felt boredom during every ball. Strange, it still hadn't occured to him yet. Probably because the people--his teammates--in this Garden were interesting.

"What happened??" Hadrian's thought was cut by Blaze's screech. By then, he caught a glimpse of the bloody man who was being dragged away by the Disciplinary committee.

"Ahh dammit! I didn't get to film the thing," he exclaimed, running both hands on his hair. Ever since the fight near the stage, he thought he would film every drama and scene that would follow afterwards. (His homepage would have so many hits once he did.) And this one, he clearly missed. How come interesting things happen when he was not around?

He slipped a look at Blaze. "See what you did? Because of you, I missed an important event." He clicked his tongue and grumbled half-heartedly, "What was I thinking dragging you back all the way here?" Hadrian didn't mean it, of course, but he still regretted the fact that he missed the fight.

"Gemma Ridean did that?" Hadrian heard one of the scantily clad SeeDs pass by them. "Another Trinity SeeD again? What troublemakers...."

"I know! That's the third time in one hour. And they're all females." The girls shook their heads. "Anyway, I just saw your date dancing with my bestfriend! Heehee!"

Trinity SeeD? Hadrian's brows lifted and watch the girls disappear in the dancefloor. Another one? He wanted to laugh. Interesting, intresting teammates.

[stardust]

"Do you believe they're going to? Terror conspiracy, murderous intent... " Reese trailed off. "I'm going to prison, Stardust."

She stared at the ground. It wasn't because she was trying to comfort Reese, not at all, she really did believe that he was going to be pardoned. She was going to help him in any way she can. If all else failed....She bit her tongue when she felt people pass by them and remained quiet.

Once they were gone, she spoke, purposely avoiding his gaze. "....Then escape from here," she said in a serious tone.

[vanesse]

Vanesse was dragged by Deo towards the dancefloor. He said he was going to tell her when the time was right? Sure. Okay. But when would that be? When it came to Deo, once he said something to the effect of 'someday' that usually could be translated to 'never.'

"Ummm dance? Drink?" he offered. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. Oh well... she thought and was going to let Deo treat her to something at the bar when she saw Blaze come back. She wasn't in her red dress anymore. Vanesse thought it was such a waste.

She gasped. "Deo! Look! She's back! Let's say hi to them!!" Turning to him, she added, "Don't worry, I won't reveal you! Let's just be friendly to them. K?" She pulled Deo towards the direction of Blaze, Hadrian and Zacke. She felt like she was dragging a super heavy sack of unwilling potatoes towards the grinder.

"BLAZE! Hello! Welcome back," Vanesse stopped in front of the three, Deo in tow. "Are you okay now?"

[Reese]

"... Then escape from here."

Reese's gaze switched over to her.

She was staring downward intently, as if in thought. When he saw the look on her face, he could see that she was being completely serious. He looked away, his mind reeling at the possibilities her words implied. This was sure a curve ball. He knew she cared, but did she care so much that she was willing to risk her own reputation to help a criminal?

At that thought, he stopped and looked back at her. In terms of her emotions, did he really outweigh the loyalty she had to Garden? Vouching for him was one thing, but supporting the idea of an escape...

The odd sense of intimacy he felt in Fisherman's Horizon, he felt with him again right now. She was a cantankerous thing, but her heart was so unimaginably pure. And even though he already knew this of her, it still left him in a kind of disbelieving stupor every time her words and actions reminded him. She made him feel like he had good in him somewhere, like she could see it. It was a feeling he'd never experienced before. No one treated him this way. No one defended him or believed in him. Most of the time, he didn't even do those things for himself.

His gaze switched to the ground again, the silence between them growing rather thick. Escape... too bad it wasn't really an option. Despite what she wanted, he already decided that he couldn't do it.

"I ran out on my mother." he replied, in a low and solemn tone. "I ran out on Waverly, and DotNA... " he paused. The next words he said were barely a whisper. "I ran from you." He shook his head slightly and turned, crossing his arms and leaning his back against the wall next to them. He stared at his shoes, and the softened expression he wore only moments ago had quickly become his customary scowl.

"I'm not running. Not again."

[Lawric]

"Do you feel better now?" She asked him, a soft kind of concern evident in her tone. He looked over at her. "You know...I'm not trying to be nosy. Well... "

He smiled slightly as she spoke, his gaze returning to the horizon while he listened to the rest of what she said. So, she did know what happened. She sounded like she knew well enough. A little awkward. he thought, but also found that he didn't mind so much anyway. She suggested it would be good for him to talk about it. It was sound advice, but even if he wanted to, he wasn't even sure what to say. His thoughts were so muddled. Everything he could think of to say sounded either whiny or just stupid when considered, so he certainly didn't have the desire to voice any of it. It would probably sound even worse out loud.

And it was so frustrating in that it didn't even make any sense. Yeah, he died. Was he dead now? No. What did he have to be discontent about? He had his life back. Deo, Vanesse, and Jaime were all here for him. Adel was dead, and now they had endless possibilities for their future.

Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that something about all of this just wasn't right.

In any case, he hadn't invited her out here so he could cry on her shoulder, or anything nonsensical like that. In fact, now that he thought about it, it was rather selfish of him to invite her out here in the first place. She should be inside with her date, enjoying her celebration. Not worrying about him and his pointless mood swings. But he hadn't wanted to give up her company. She was so nice to be around--like a breath of fresh air. She didn't know him, he didn't know her, and there was a simplicity there somewhere that was very appealing right now. As well as the fact that she was a lovely, smart, and obviously a very capable female... What male wouldn't want to spend a bit of time with that? He glanced over at her, wanting to forgive himself for being so indulgent, but finding it hard. As nice as this was, he was taking advantage of her kindness, wasn't he?

He frowned thoughtfully.

The silence had stretched on for what was becoming a long time. He sighed finally, knowing he had to respond somehow. He still had no idea what to say, so he said the first and most genuine thing that came to mind.

"To care is not nosy. You're a very kind woman, Jun."

[Zacke]

<sup>d00d ~_~ *exhausted by Lawric and Reese's emo-ness*

^.^ *rubs hands together and preps for a happy Zackie post*</sup>

---

"BLAZE! Hello! Welcome back," A pixie-haired girl came running up to them, practically dragging a very reluctant looking guy along with her. He recognized her--she was the first one to introduce herself to him after the battle with Adel. Van.

"Are you okay now?" She asked Blaze.

Zacke looked over at Blaze, and then back at Vanesse, cracking a grin. "Blaze? Okay? Tch, she's been through more than a few rumbles with the pink haired psycho." he laughed. "She's got her lion paws on now. I don't think Stardust will mess with her again."

He glanced over at the Trinity table, noticing that it was now completely empty, save for one person: Brooke. The sight of her sitting there with a pouty expression, drinking alone--not out of a glass, but out of the champagne bottle itself--it was absolutely hilarious. He actually couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Oh my Hyne," he said. "Dude, I'll be back," he addressed no one in particular, amused grin plastered to his face and all as he left the group and headed toward the table, shaking his head.

Brooke Coroniere... you sad, sad little lady.

His amused grin slowly became something more wicked; something mischievous. Tormenting Stardust, while fun, would earn one injuries. Tormenting Brooke, on the other hand, would be completely harmless.

[Gemma Ridean]

"I take it your hand is okay?" Quistis asked Gemma as she studied her somewhat reddened hand to check for any bruising. Shaking her head politely, Gemma replied that her hand felt fine. This answer seemed to satisfy the Instructor as she smiled a sign of relief. Like a mother hen, she clucked, "If you have any more troubles with unsavory males, please report them and disciplinary measures will be taken."

Gemma nodded promptly, "Will do m'am!" as Quistis walked away.

Well that's take care of one thing.

Surveying the room, she noticed that it had emptied out somewhat. In addition, she was starting to receive some very strange looks from random girls walking by...probably ones who had witnessed the spectacle she caused earlier.

But then, an interesting thought occurred to her. Who cares? Who the hell cares? She smiled.

I punched someone!

Then she started giggling.

I picked a fight with a random stranger!/i]

Soon, she was cackling, laughing, hell, even snorting.

I'm becoming Blaze!

The thought of that was too much. Nearly choking from her own hysteria, she flung her arms around her shoulders, hugging herself, swaying from side to side, moving in the only way that could describe the inexplicable joy bursting from within her.

"Um miss?"

Gemma snapped out of her reverie and looked up. A young waiter was hovering over her with an concerned look on his face.

"A-are you all right?"

Breathless, she murmured, "Absolutely."

[Jun]

A soft little smile played on Jun's lips as she studied Lawric, who appeared to be in deep concentration thinking about the comment she made earlier. It was flattering that he was taking the time to consider her "advice", and it showed that he wasn't just going to brush her off with some patronising answer or tell her to mind her own business. But then the silence seemed to stretch, and she started to feel that she had imposed an inconvenience upon him by giving advice that wasn't warranted at all.

"To care is not nosy. You're a very kind woman, Jun." He finally said, sounding thorougly sincere about it.

Her smiled widened, blossoming across her face until it became a full-fledged beam.

"You really don't have to flatter me, I know I'm nosy." She was happy at his compliment, but then Sapphy's niggling voice told her that it was a nice way of telling her to mind her own business. She ignored him, as usual. "And I'm sorry...it's really not my place to expect you to pour everything out to me. Not as if I'm a shrink or anything..." She sighed, leaning against the railing, turning to look out into the sky this time. "You don't have to worry about hurting my feelings or anything, I'd understand if you'd rather confide in your friends." Her smile faded a little, although it was still there. She had to admit, she was a little disappointed. Because right now, she would much rather know more about him, than what she had seen on the surface. But these things took time. She couldn't just expect a crash course or anything.

"So...what are you planning to go off to, after all this has ended?" She asked, trying to steer the conversation away from the awkwardness it had lasped into.

[Stella]

With the way Gemma was laughing Stella was really getting worried that she was cracking up. Maybe she didn't know her friend that well at all.

"Come on, Gemma... let's go sit down" Stella said carefully looping her arm around Gemma's and leading her back towards the Trinity tables where Brooke stood alone. She suppressed a moan and just rolled her eyes instead. Get over it Stell, she's just a spoiled little rich girl who has gotten everything she's ever wanted... yeah exactly..

"Can't believe you punched that guy, you better be careful people might start thinking you're another Blaze" Stella said to her quietly with a wicked little smile as they reached the tables. She glanced over her shoulder to see Rayden standing where she left him looking at Quistis and the men carrying off Mr. Bloody nose. He's probably checking Quistis out... well I guess I can't blame him.. he is male after all. She giggled to herself and rolled her eyes a little.

"Sit and relax, we've got to find someone for you to dance with to loosen you up" Stella said to Gemma doing her best to completely ignore Brooke. She sat Gemma down in one of the chairs and glanced around looking for a cute guy.

[Lawric]

"So...what are you planning to go off to, after all this has ended?"

She sounded sincerely empathetic for him. Like she wanted him to share his thoughts with her, she wanted to understand. Why did she care? Why was she out here with him, in the first place? He was almost a complete stranger to her.

He wanted to smirk. Did it matter?

Since when had he let himself become so petty?

"There's this static." he said quietly. He looked over at her, ignoring the question she had asked. If she wanted to help him, maybe he should just go ahead and let her. What could it hurt? Standing up straight, he turned his body to face her, now addressing her directly. "But not quite, because I don't hear it." he continued. "I feel it. Like a hum. But not physically... It's like a bunch of streamlined instinctual warnings. Excess light and sound is uncomfortable. I feel... heavy; stifled, almost." He glanced away, becoming a bit frustrated with his inability to express himself. He didn't make any sense whatsoever, and he knew it.

"It's not that I would like to confide in anyone else. And it's not even that I would like to keep it to myself. It's just--I'm not right. I feel detached somehow, I feel--I can't explain it all that well--" He paused, staring at her intently for a few moments. "I sound like I'm out of my mind, don't I?"

[Zacke]

Zacke weaved through and around the congregating social groups surrounding the ballroom floor, trying to make his way toward their designated table. When the line of vision to the table cleared again, he found that Brooke was no longer alone. Stella and Gemma were sitting at the table, as well.

He closed the space between them quickly, approaching the table with that same mischievous grin. "Stella, Gemma," he greeted the girls with a nod. Gaze switching to Brooke, he pulled out the chair opposite hers and planted himself down it in.

"Brooke." he said, grinning broadly.

Brooke's stared daggers at him. She pulled the champagne bottle away from her lips and swallowed the liquid in her mouth. "What?" she asked coldly.

His kept up his fake friendly demeanor. "Oh, nothing. I just wanted to let you know that I think you look absolutely stunning tonight." His tone was so over-the-top that it had to be fake. "So how many meals did you skip to fit into that expensive number?"

"Shutup," she spat. "Get away from me. Go play with your mangy girlfriends." She waved him off with a primly manicured hand, before taking another drink from the bottle.

He grinned over at Stella and Gemma. "She's such a pleasant girl, isn't she? Very polite, very cordial--and look at her, drinking straight from the bottle like a real lady!" He laughed and looked back at Brooke. "Hey, did you ever manage to get my repulsive glob of snot and spit off your precious Ruby Dragon-skin boots?"

"Oh, you're so goddamn funny." she remarked snidely. She looked over at Stella and Gemma. Either she was too drunk to recognize Stella, or she just didn't care. "Isn't he hilarious? He's an absolute riot." she rolled her eyes and looked away. "You've probably never even seen gil in the amount those boots cost. Dumbass."

He looked over at the two other girls sitting with them, shaking his head a bit, his grin lingering.

[Stella]

I bet they wouldn't cost more then the new nose job you would need after I was done with you... Stella bit back the words and shook her head with a mischievous grin.

She couldn't be more pleased. In fact she was delighted. To see Zacke ruthlessly have a go at Brooke like that just filled her with a huge amount of joy. Her night had just gotten about five hundred times better. However it just wouldn't do for the Trinity team to find themselves in another brawl so she kept her biting comments to herself.

So instead she continued ignoring the girl in the gold dress as if she didn't exist. Moving over to stand behind Zacke she put her hands on his shoulders leaning down to whisper in his ear grinning a little across the table at Brooke.

"Hey Zacko... Gemma could really use a dance right now... Would you mind leaving this floozy to her own devices and asking her?" Stella whispered to him softly, so that Gemma wouldn't hear, her hair brushing against his neck.